Back to school bash at Fremont Park focuses on stopping gun violence

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The Fremont Youth Foundation put on it's annual Back to School block party Sunday afternoon, the event's theme was "Stop the Violence."

Kim Clowers, one of the group's founders, said it is a back to school bash, but this has a deeper message.

"There've been so many events across the city that do back to school our many focus is stop the violence," Clowers said.

The event had free haircuts, a community library, and many games provided by the South Bend Venues Parks and Arts. But the children's favorite part of the event was the updated playgrounds.

Back in 2016, the city invested $150,000 for Fremont Park. This year, the park received a $200,000 investment.

South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg said this may have never happened if the group and community members hadn't raised their concerns to the city and his office.

"They will stop at nothing to make sure the children here have great opportunities," Buttigieg said.

But the work is far from over. Buttigieg said there has been an uptick in shootings nationwide and South Bend is not immune to it.

"You have kids helping each other, parents and grandparents supporting their kids," Buttigieg said. "We're showing that their can be a healthy alternative to some of what the streets are and trying to lure kids into."

Theresa Chambers said she wants Fremont St. and the rest of the city to be safe for her kids.

"Let these kids grow up, you know they need to remove these guns off the streets period," Chambers said.

Clowers said Fremont Park is just a shelter, giving kids on Fremont St. a safe place to play.

"If we can't do it all the time, we're definitely going to do it today," she said.